If you are the owner of a boat in Canada, you may have thought about whether or not you should change the name of a boat at some time. After all, it is a significant matter, and both possibilities have perks and drawbacks to consider. When most people think of changing the name of their yacht, the first thing that typically comes to mind is a time-consuming and costly procedure. Although you may have a strong desire to do so, you should never, under any circumstances, alter the name of your boat. There are too many good reasons to stick with the current moniker. This article will look at the various reasons why you should never change the name of your boat, both from a legal standpoint and from the perspective of maintaining the best possible condition for your watercraft. Some of these reasons include:
It’s Confusing and Can Lead to Misunderstandings
Changing the name of a boat can cause chaos and extra work for everyone involved. In addition, it may confuse you and your coworkers on the boat, as there will now be two vessels with the same name in the system. It might alter how you get along with previous boat crew members in certain cases. They might have sentimental ties to the name, and changing it would bring back bad memories of a time they’d rather not dwell on. Even worse, they may have spent a lot of time and effort building up a reputation for that boat, and if you change the name and begin referring to it as a different one, customers who thought they were doing business with a reputable company may begin to wonder if there is anything else they should be wary of.
It’s Costly and Time-Consuming to Change the Name of a Boat Legally
When you pick a name for your boat, naming it for the first time or renaming it after an upgrade or repair, people tend to link you with the boat and its name. This is true whether you are naming it for the first time or renaming it after an upgrade or repair. Changing the name of a boat’s registration under the law is a procedure that may be time-consuming and expensive, in addition to being pricey in general. Some organizations, such as the United States Coast Guard, will do it for you and even submit all of the documentation on your behalf; however, the fee for this service is rather high. You will be required to pay an application charge and a cost for each legal name change if your boat is registered with them, which is the case for most recreational boats.
It’s Bad for Branding and Can Impact Your Business
After being christened by its owner, a boat’s name becomes an integral element of its identity in the eyes of the outside world. A company’s brand begins with its name, whether chosen at the outset or after years of deliberation. Talking about something that will last for decades gives it an air of permanence, yet like any other company, a boat may have its branding modified for many reasons. A boat’s owner may become tired of the name they originally picked and opt to give their vessel a new moniker.
Perhaps they’ve had enough of people making fun of the similarity between their boat name and the name of a band (whether those jokes are funny or not). Perhaps the company has diversified into areas unrelated to sailing, and they feel the need to rebrand their ship to reflect this. Perhaps they only want to go through with a simple first name change, hoping that the new moniker would be less likely to come up in Google searches meant for someone else.
Changing The Name of a Boat Can Lead to Identity Theft
In general, most individuals don’t give much thought to the wealth of information included in their name, and that’s to their benefit. As you go about your day, you give little thought to the chance that a malicious outsider is exploiting your personal information. However, if your identity is stolen, the thief may use the new title to claim possession of the boat in your name, which is the biggest issue with changing the name of your boat.
The only way to get around this is to register your boat in a state that doesn’t need the owner’s name to appear on the title. When titling becomes mandatory in your state, you’ll need to take extra precautions to avoid identity theft. You must keep any paperwork about the ship secure and out of the hands of potential thieves. Additionally, ensure you have all mail about the ship forwarded straight to a reliable third party rather than your home address.
You May Need New Licenses or Permits
To begin, you may need to apply for any new licenses or permissions. It is not unusual for boat owners to change their vessels’ names. If this is something you are considering doing, you must check with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and any other relevant agencies before you make any changes. This will ensure that everything complies with the law and is up to date when you are finished. Additionally, if you already have licenses or permits for your boat that are specific to its name — for example, a fishing license that spells out the exact name of your vessel — it may be inconvenient or even impossible to go back and get new ones with the new name. The new name may conflict with the old licenses or permits.
The Canadian Vessel Registry is the official body that regulates boat registration in Canada. They offer a free service to help you register your boat and ensure it remains legal at all times. To register your boat with the Canadian Vessel Registry, call +1 (800) 419-9569.
